Fire-escape.



L. SPIRO.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3. [915.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

WITNESSES.

LOUIS SPIRO, OF MONESSEN, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.6.

Application filed February 3, 1915. Serial No. 5,906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Louis Srmo, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Monessen, in the county of VVestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fire- Escapes, of which the following is a,

specification.

My invention relatesto improvements in means for escaping from fires, and it con sists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a device by means of which a person may descend a rope with perfect safety.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which a person may descend a rope at any desired speed, which speed is under control of the person descending.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple device which takes up little room and is cheap to manufacture, and which may be installed at small cost.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is provided with an auxiliary clutch mechanism which will permit the user of the rope to descend gradually even if he should become unconscious by fainting, suffocation, or in any other manner. I

These and other objects will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a face view of the device; Flg. 2 is a view of the device at right angles to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section along the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view through a portion of the device; Fig. 5 is a partial face view of a modified form of the device; Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; an d Fig. 7 is a section along the line 7-7 of Fig. 1. V

In carrying out my invention, I provide a central cylinder 1 which is hollow as shown in Fig. 3, and is adapted to receive a rope or cable 3, this rope or cable being of sulficient strength to withstand the weight of one, two, or even more persons.

Secured to the cylinder 1 on each side thereof, are laterally extending arms 1, the arms on the same side of the cylinder being connected together by frame members such as those shown at 5. The connection between the laterally extending arms 4; and the members 5 is best shown in Fig. 4. In this figure it will be seen that the frame members 5 have a tongue or lug 5 which is adapted to enter one end of the arm 1, the latter being hollow. A pin 6 may then be inserted through the members 1: and 5, thus securing these parts together.

Each of the arms 4; has a longitudinal slot on that side facing the inner part of the frame, and extending from the outer end of the arm to the central cylinder 1. This slot is shown at 7 in the drawings and is adapted to receive the tongue 8 of a gripping member 8 which is provided with a portion 9 adapted to enter the longitudinal slot 2 in the cylinder 1 as shown in Fig. 41-. A spring 10 is disposed between the tongue S of the gripping member 8 and the cylinder 1, thus tending to push the gripping member outwardly so as to bring the portion 9 awayfrom the rope, which passes through the interior of the cylinder 1.

As will be seen from'the drawings, there are two of these gripping members, one on each side of the central cylinder 1. The tongues 8 slide in the slots 7 so as to permit the portions 9 of these gripping members to grip the rope or cable when it is desired todo so. In 0rder.to further guide the gripping members in their movement, the edges of the grippingmembers contiguous to, and external of the arms 4, are curved to conform with the curvature of the arms, and the edges that face the cylinder 1 are also curved so as to permit the gripping members to be forced inwardly to their full limit.

In order to provide for emergencies, such as where one becomes unconscious through suffocation, or upon fainting, I provide an auxiliary automatic device which insures the safety of the-user of the machine.

Secured to the upper end of the cylinder is aplate or block 11 which is provided with a central opening arranged to register and forming a prolongation of the opening in the central cylinder 1. Hinged to the block 11 on opposite sides of the central opening are the gripping members 12. I prefer to make these gripping members of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In these figures it will be seen that they consist of plates substantially L-shaped in cross section, which may swlng toward each other, so as to grip the rope 3, a curved recess l1 being provided at the central portion of the gripping member, to conform to the curvature of the rope or cable. These members are so hinged that they may open up until the shoulder 11 engages the face of theblock 11.

Secured to each of the'gripping members 12 are short lengths of chain which pass through openings 14 in the block 11 and are fastened to a common chain 15 which may be attached by means of a swivel orsnap hook 16 to the eye 17 of a wrist band 18, see Fig. 2. V

From the foregoing description of the vario-us parts of 'the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

If the user of the device, should for any reason release his hold and start to fall, his weight will cause a tightening of the chain 15 and thus will bring into play the gripping members 12 which will grip the rope suliiciently to prevent a rapid descent, but which will not grip the rope with sufiicient force to stop descent. A person who is unconscious will, therefore, be lowered to the ground gradually and with safety.

This device is especially desirable where in case of a fire a fireman desires to descend the rope and at the same time to carry with him either goods or a person whom he is rescuing and who may be unconscious. If he has to descend an ordinary rope and grasp the same with his hands there is danger of his losing his grip, but with this device he can carry the extra weight and by manipulating the gripping members as already described, he can descend the rope safely and at a speed which is determined by the manner in which hemanipulates the gripping members.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a modified form of the device, in which the central cylinder is composed of two semi-cylindrical portions 1 and 1 hinged at 1. The block bearing the gripping members 12 is also made in two parts as shown at 11 and 11 This form of the device is desirable in cases where there are a great many people in a building, as, for instance, in a factory, or other similar institution. It may be applied to a rope by opening the device along the center, inclosing it about a rope, and locking it in position by means of a locking member such as that shown at 17 in Fig. 5. The operation of this device is the same as that already described, but it will be seen that if each employee is provided with one of these devices and instructed how to use it, a great saving of life may be effected.

It will be understood that this device may be used in any place where it is desirable to descend a rope quickly and safely, as, for instance, a mine, or in building operations. I also contemplate the making of this device in all sizes and of different materials.

I claim 1. The combination with a rope or cable, of a sleeve arranged to surround a portion of said rope or cable, said sleeve having a pair of opposed longitudinal slots, at movable gripping member disposed on each side of said sleeve, each of said gripping members having a tongue arranged to project through one of said slots and into contact with the cable, and springs disposed between the ends of each of said gripping members and the central sleeve for normally holding said gripping members away from said rope or cable.

2. The combination with a rope or cable, of a sleeve arranged to surround a portion of said rope or cable, said sleeve having a pair of opposed longitudinal slots, a movable gripping member disposed on each side of said sleeve, each of said gripping members having a tongue arranged to prO ect through one of said slots and into contact with the cable, springs disposed between the ends of each of said gripping members and the central sleeve for normally holding said gripping members away from said rope or cable, and a frame carried by said sleeve on each side thereof, for guiding said gripping members.

8. The combination with a rope or cable, of a sleeve arranged to surround a portion of said rope or cable, said sleeve having a pair of opposed longitudinal slots, a movable gripping member disposed on each side of said sleeve, each of said gripping members having a tongue arranged to project through one of said slots and into contact with the cable, springs disposed between the ends of each of said gripping members and the central sleeve for normally holding said gripping members away from said rope or cable, and a frame having hollow members arranged to receive and retain said springs on each side of said central sleeve, said frames also serving to guide said gripping members.

4. The combination with a rope or cable, of a sleeve arranged to surround a portion of said rope or cable, said sleeve having a pair of opposed longitudinal slots, a U- shaped frame member carried by said sleeve on each side thereof, the arms of each of said U-shaped members being provided with guide slots, a movable gripping member for each frame member having tongues ar- 1,196,607 lblll ranged to enter the guide slots in its indimovement of said gripping members servvidual gripping member, a spiral spring dising to bring said tongues into frictional en- 3 posed between each of said tongues and gagement With the cable.

said sleeve for normally holding the grip ping member away from the sleeve, and a LOUIS SPIRO' tongue carried by each of said gripping Witnesses:

members and adapted to project through L. A. STANLEY,

one of the opposed slots in said sleeve, the SoLoN O. KEMoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

